Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope

Speaker 1

Hi, I'm Shauna on Joni Eareckson Tada sharing hope and Joni, I've got a question for you today. How can we believe, as James said, to consider it all joy when we're suffering?

Speaker 2

Ooh, that is a good question. And you know what I think from the onset, we've got to understand that God is heaven bent on applying to us every benefit of his Son's resurrection. That means peace. That's profound joy, overflowing contentment, that's sweet. A soul that's settled.

And I want to assure our friends listening that the Bible goes to great lengths to describe God's undivided attention for our well-being, especially as it concerns those trials James talks about, especially suffering. God says to us in Isaiah 41, "Do not fear, I'm with you. Don't be dismayed. I'm your God. I will strengthen you, help you, I'll uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Now I'm glad the word of God does not tiptoe around the subject of suffering, as though avoiding the issue. The Bible resonates with our pain and records our lament. In short, God understands. He gets it. I mean, just consider these words: "My back is filled with searing pain. There is no health in my body. I am feeble and utterly crushed. I groan in anguish of heart. I wait for you, O Lord. You will answer, O Lord, my God." That's from Psalm 38.

And there's another way to pray when you're in pain. Psalm 25 describes it. It says, "Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are my God and my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." So taking that verse, you could pray, "Oh Father, show me your ways as it concerns my pain and chronic disability."

Romans 12:2 tells me not to think about my situation as the world thinks, that I'm not to be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind. And that's so that I can test and approve what your will is. And I know it's always good and pleasing and perfect. So help me to understand how my condition is an expression of your will for my life.

"Lord Jesus, you are well acquainted with pain, so teach me your paths. Help me to follow you as I should." That's a great way to pray. And then the capstone, of course, is in First Peter, chapter two, verse 21. For there it says, "To this you were called, that is suffering. You were called to it because Christ has suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps also."

"Lord, help me trust you, to lean on you, to ask daily for your grace and enabling, and to represent you well to all those around me. Oh Holy Spirit, would you guide my friend listening who's dealing with pain? Guide him or her into your truth. Help them to look at their suffering as you look at it. Help them not to think that you've given them too much to bear or that they have a right to complain. They don't need to succumb to bitterness because First Corinthians 10 assures us that no temptation or test has seized us except what's common to man and God's faithful. He won't let us be tested or tempted beyond what we can bear, and when we are, he'll provide a way out so that we can stand up under it."

So God help my friend listening to know that your grace is the way out and if things don't get better, you'll give my friend strength. Oh friend, if you struggle with pain, please remember these special words from the Word of God to you today, especially First Peter, Chapter four.

Oh, by the way, I shared a beautiful poem earlier this week called "Jesus, King of Pain," and I'd love you to download it. Just go to johnnyradiog, right, Shawna?

Speaker 1

That's right, Johnny. And friend, while you're there, make sure to ask for your free copy of Dr. John Piper's book Shaped by God. Get your gift today at johnnyradio. Org and again, that's johnnyradiog.